Welcome to the final day of the 2026 Malmsten Swim Open Stockholm! While the iconic Sarah Sjostrom has wrapped up her races, the pool is still buzzing with anticipation for the last leg of this thrilling competition. Today, we'll witness some of the world's finest swimmers battle it out for glory.
The Final Splash
Men's 200 IM: A Subdued Start
The men's 200 IM final kicked off the evening, but it lacked the explosive start we often see in such prestigious events. No swimmer managed to break the 2-minute barrier, which is a surprising turn of events. Czech swimmer Jan Cejka took the gold with a personal best of 2:02.14, an impressive feat, but one that highlights the overall subdued nature of this race.
Women's 200 Fly: Dominance by Helena Rosendahl Bach
In the women's 200 fly, 25-year-old Helena Rosendahl Bach dominated the field, winning by a staggering margin of over six seconds. Her time of 2:07.47 not only secured her the gold but also brought her within striking distance of the longstanding meet record. Bach's performance was a season-best, and she even bettered her own gold-winning time from the 2024 European Championships.
Men's 800 Free: A Teenage Sensation
Now, this is where things get truly exciting. 19-year-old Johannes Liebmann put on a show in the men's 800m freestyle, scorching the pool with a monster personal best of 7:37.94. This not only earned him the gold but also shattered records. Liebmann's swim obliterated his previous best and even surpassed the national and European records held by Sven Schwarz. His time would have won gold at the 2024 Olympics, a testament to his incredible talent.
Women's 100 Breast: A Close Battle
The women's 100m breast final saw a tight battle, with Lithuanian Kotryna Teterevkova taking the gold in 1:07.12. Polish swimmer Barbara Mazurkiewicz was just 0.03 seconds behind, a heart-stopping finish. Tes Schouten, the Olympic medalist from the Netherlands, had to settle for bronze despite her earlier win in the 200m breast.
Men's 50 Free: Just Missing the Mark
In the men's 50m free, we saw a close race, but no one managed to dip under the 22-second barrier. Austrian Heiko Gigler took the gold in 22.25, with American Brooks Curry just 0.02 seconds behind. It was a little disappointing not to see a sub-22-second swim, especially after Curry's impressive performances in the 200m and 100m free.
Women's 800 Free: German Double
The women's 800m free final saw a German double, with Isabel Gose taking the gold and Maya Werner the bronze. Gose's time of 8:24.69 was just shy of her own meet record, but it was still an impressive performance. Werner and Australian Moesha Johnson rounded out the top three.
Deeper Analysis
What makes these results particularly fascinating is the broader context. The men's 200 IM, usually a showcase of explosive talent, was relatively subdued. This could be a sign of a changing landscape in the sport, with new strategies and training methods coming to the forefront. On the other hand, the teenage sensation Liebmann's swim is a reminder of the incredible depth of talent in the sport, and the potential for new records and achievements.
Conclusion
The final day of the 2026 Malmsten Swim Open Stockholm has been a mixed bag of results, with some surprising outcomes and others that highlight the incredible talent in the sport. As we reflect on these races, it's clear that swimming is a constantly evolving sport, with new stars rising and records falling. Personally, I think it's these unexpected twists and turns that make swimming so captivating and keep us coming back for more.
